What steps are needed to move gaming clients or Steam games from an external drive after a fresh install?
What steps are needed to move gaming clients or Steam games from an external drive after a fresh install?
The Steam client must be reinstalled alongside the updated operating system. The games can be relocated. Steam games location settings include: Steam, Settings, Downloads, and Steam Library folders. To relocate an installed game, right-click it, go to Properties, then Local Files, and move the install folder.
Examine the locations where games are downloaded, duplicate that directory, and then reinsert it. For instance in Steam, if you haven’t altered the default download path from C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps, simply copy over the folder, and upon reinstalling Steam, restore it. Steam games contain a file indicating availability, so they should appear and function normally, though you’ll need to complete the initial setup process.
For other platforms such as Origin, the procedure is similar, but you may need to install the game directly. If the client is capable, it will detect the presence of the game and verify its files, then download or update any necessary content before launching.
If you’re targeting specific titles, you can transfer the game folders unchanged and place them back in their original download spots. For Steam, obtaining the confirmation file that verifies the download is cumbersome, so relying on Steam’s automatic installation is recommended.
I’ve rearranged games like this. Simply open the common apps folder inside the Steam folder, it should display everything installed there. Copy those files, then after reinstalling, move them back to the desired location, specifying the new path in Steam.
The Steam client must be reinstalled alongside the updated operating system. The games can be relocated. Steam games location settings include: Steam, Settings, Downloads, and Steam Library folders. To relocate an installed game, right-click it, go to Properties, then Local Files, and move the install folder.